I started painting this morning and although results are not brilliant I really enjoyed it. I used acrylic, however I am still not sure if I want to go back to oil . Acrylic dries quickly and is water based so easier to deal with but there is something about painting with oil that is more satisfying . Maybe I will do the same exercise but with oil and compare . The problem is Acrylic will be easier to transport around if travelling cos it dries quick etc.
I have just come back from a short holiday in France. Didn’t move around a lot so just took pictures in the local town. It was very easy going. I really get on well with the Nikon Z6 ii . I scooted into town in the early morning . Great weather , bright and sunny but not hot. I am already planning to go back next June. Took some pictures drank some really fantastic coffee and croissants every morning , I have gained about 1/2 stone in weight now 11 st 2 – drat ! Now on a diet.
I really need to get my exercises going again and walking. I need to concentrate on the Botswana trip as something to aim for . I would like to get about on sticks a bit easier.
I managed to start exercising again today. Lots of false starts because I am in so much pain in the mornings that all I want to do is sit down. However when I stretch and do my exercises I definitely feel better . It’s one of those vicious circle things. MS is difficult to explain but it’s not all about weak muscles because it’s nerve damage that is the problem and you can’t fix that. I am sitting down looking out the window and its absolutely throwing it down and blowing a gale so not a day for walking around the field.
This post is again about MS but it is also about how I might get to Botswana next year – exercise and diet.
This post should be about painting and travel ,but my MS has infiltrated most of my life so my posts will often have a bit of MS information, can’t help it.
I really enjoy painting , even though results can be variable. It appears to be a very relaxing thing although I am concentrating hard . I will get some more done in the next few days.
I still don’t understand the difference between posts and blogs to I am just going to add to my posts as I go along . It’s my website so I will do it that way.
Day 1 – Did exercises – made a start.
Day 2 of the new regime and I did all my exercises which made my legs ache etc. Then I walked around the field with Tobi which went better than I thought . That’s enough for today apart from I may do some balance training later. Sit down cup of tea. Quite pleased.
Day 3 of the boot camp. I managed to do all my exercises again. Nearly killed me, very painful. I don’t yet seem to have any benefit yet but I will continue ad nauseum ! I am hoping that in a few weeks I might see some difference , of course it’s too early now to tell but I am impatient.
I also did some painting today . This time with oils but I recon I am getting pretty good results with acrylic now that I know how to approach things so I recon I will swap back again . Being water based and quick drying they are so much more easy to deal with. I need to make my mind up !
Today – Day 4 . I walked round the field twice !!! That’s 1/2 mile. The 2nd half of the second lap was a real killer but I kept going. I startled a partridge which took flight right next to me , I jumped out of my skin and nearly fell over. By the time I was back at the house I was hardly moving at all . It gets so bad that nothing works. But that’s MS folks a real bundle of laughs . I still want to do my exercises today but at the moment I can’t even go get a cup of tea.
However it’s a stunning day , no wind , bright sunshine. There’s sightings of a kingfisher nearby so I might try and get a picture sometime with the long lens (70-300) and the d7500 which gives me max 450 mm cos it’s dx.
Day 5 – I thought I was going to suffer today after yesterday’s walk , but no. I have done my exercises again but no walk today. Walk tomorrow. Maybe some painting. No sign of the kingfisher yesterday.
Day 6 – I managed to walk twice around the field again. It was very very hard . Sitting down and cooling off . Could do with a cup of tea but no energy left to make it yet. My Dog Tobi is also knackered . He’s collapsed next to me.
I must get my weight down . I am currently 14 st 2 lb that puts me roughly a stone overweight. If I could lose most of that I recon it must help my walking.
I am looking forward to having a go with acrylics again, but it’s such a nice day that I may go outside again later. Use my chair.
Day 7 – Did exercises today. Felt not bad and I felt (dare I write this) that my legs felt a bit stronger . I am pleased because the exercises and the walking in particular are such a painful thing . To have no gain is hard , but I have been here before. MS is such a fickle b’stard because how you feel varies from hour to hour so I will not get any hopes up yet . Just keep going. Walking every other day. Exercises etc.
Lovely autumn day today so been out with my chair round the field a few times with Tobi (our dog). More walking tomorrow sigh ! But also do some painting – can’t wait , acrylics .
Day 8 – 2 laps of the field with Tobi . It was really hard, it hasn’t yet felt easier , although the first lap has become routine. Just have to bog on with it. Sit down cup of tea. Painting soon, I swapped oils for acrylics , looking forward to having a go at something again. I feel that my brush strokes are not as good now , lack of practice I guess. Lots to do. I have been trying to jazz up the website so I did a test page which feels a bit emetic when viewed so needs some work.
Day 9 of the MS boot camp / whinge . My back’s killing me . Done my exercises . Paracetemol and coffee ! Did only a little bit of painting yesterday , the walk wiped me out.
Day 10, travelling to a wedding no exercise today.
Day 11 at the wedding no exercise. Felt very fatigued .
Day 12 – Did my exercises today – first day of new diet currently 14 st 2 lb ! Should be more like 13 st 4 lb plenty of room for improvement !
Day 13 – I will do my exercises today no walking cos I have a food delivery which will wipe me out. I need another coffee now. I have asked my dog Tobi to go fetch one but he’s ignoring me , useless , you would think he would do something to earn his keep ! Bad dog no biscuit.
Day 14 – 14st 1lb (better but not great). Went to MS society meeting. It was good , always helps. Good to have a chat with people . I couldn’t do this during lockdown.
Day 15 – Bad diet day. I was in a lot of pain so had scotch and peanuts . Lost the plot. No exercises. Did some painting – acrylic.
Day 16 – No exercises today. Not sure why. Must get on with it. Also bad day on diet – 14 st 3 ! Drat. However I remembered something my physio said a few years ago about posture. She said to lead with your pelvis. I had forgotten this so I have been trying it again . It makes me walk more upright but then I have issues with balance but I recon I should keep trying. No walking any distance today absolutely chucking it down so can’t get outside.
Day 17 22/10/22 (why am I not using dates ? And I was a data / database analyist !) . Did exercises today. Tried to use the new carpet cleaner which really made my back ache . Sitting down with a cup of tea. Must have a go at walking again very soon.
There an MS website with a forum which I occasionally access . It’s pretty heart breaking when there are so many young people with serious problems with MS . My heart goes out to them . At least I was lucky and it wasn’t until I was 54 when it really stopped me in my tracks (literally).
23/10/22 – (18) – Exercises done. 14st 1lb not great.
24/10/22 – (19) – Still 14 st 1lb .
25/10/22 – (20) Exercises done – got a bit down today, I don’t seem to be improving much and I am sick of the constant pain in my back and legs when I stand or walk. Had a short melt down. My wife was really supportive and Tobi the wonder dog came over and cheered me up . I find it amazing how he can read my mood. It’s not about something I say but he knows when I am sad.
26/10/22 – No exercises today travelled to see my Mum and also my daughter . I am staying with friends as well , all is good.
27/10/22 – I spent most of the day sorting out my Dads old workshop. Very tiring . Lots of lifting etc.
28/10/22 – Exercises done today.
29/10/22 – No exercises, travelled back home.
30/10/22 – Exercised, still eating too much
31/10/22 – Some exercises. Backache really nasty today. I am keeping up with my exercises but it’s a bit disheartening because I don’t seem to have any benefit yet. I am having a telephone appointment with a doctor tomorrow to discuss my back which is just agony at times. Drank and eat too much again , I think that this is comfort eating in response to a lot of pain today but I must break that habit.
01/11/22 – Exercises done. Didn’t manage to hook up with the doctor . I will re schedule.
02/11/22 – No exercises today
03/11/22 – I will exercise today then into the car to see my sister. This post is getting really monotonous – it boils down to – I am doing my exercises most days. I need to lose weight and do more walking. So I am going to stop recording everyday the same thing. Only add to the post when something of some interest happens.
16/11/22 – Nothing Interesting has happened ! Not written much for a while . I am still doing exercises , still overweight etc etc ..yawn . However , I am still taking pictures and painting when I can . I took some pictures at a wedding recently but they were not that good , not the fault of the Z6 or me for that matter, more that I had little access to people made worse by being in my wheelchair. Normally that’s not a problem but the professional photographers didn’t seem to want anyone else involved at all. Never mind.
6/12/22 – I thought I would write some stuff. I have paid for a good physio to visit to try and get my back better – arthritis is killing me . I now have some exercises specifically tailored to sort out this problem. I have also seen the doctor and got some help with the pain so I am hoping that with this pincer movement I can get somewhere . This is particularly interesting at the moment because I have been planning with my friends and we have started to think about next August for Botswana which is amazing and I am very excited . It is concentrating my thinking about fitness , mobility etc because it’s going to be quite a challenge for me. But a hell of an adventure.
It’s also interesting on the photography front that my friend who is coming has just bought a z6 ii so we can share lenses etc we are such nerds but it’s gonna be great.
29/12/22 – I have been looking at long lenses – I like the Nikon Z 100-400 . I think I might sell all my DX gear cos it’s expensive but would really fit the bill.
On the fitness front 14 st 6 lb (due to xmas) . This is very bad , so today no goodies , recorded 1500 cals (target) and a walk round the field. Arthritis is much better on the new meds and exercises which is a huge relief.
01/01/23 – No 14 st 3 lb , going in the right direction. Exercises and walking on alternate days. Walking has been really hard so far. In a couple of days time I will get my first visit from a neuro physio. Hope it helps.
06/01/23 – Botswana booked for 4th August. Wooooo ! . About 80 % excited and 20 % anxious about my MS etc. I keep telling myself that I am with my friends and they will look after me. Anyway, I’ve had my first visit from my neuro physio which went really well. She has given me some exercises to help my balance and strength. She will come back for a second visit in 2 weeks. I have started in earnest to get my body back in some kind of shape . I really have something to aim for . I have carried on my diet but still only 14st 2 lb, still going in the right direction but slowly. Exercises every day with a major one every other 2 days. Major one was today so I am knackered but feel better than when I started. Back ache still under control which is good.
I am still agonizing about which lenses and cameras to sell / take with me on the Botswana trip. The Z 100 – 400 looks great but expensive . So maybe keep the d7500 . Maybe a good plan to take two cameras . There is a lot of dust on safari so 2 cameras with different lenses and minimize any lens changes . As usual I dunno but I will save a lot of money by keeping the dx and the 70-300. Aaah !
I have been shopping around and there seems to be a few websites which advertise lenses and cameras quite cheap but I smell a rat . I think you have to be careful and check these things out .
I Bought a second hand af-s 80-400 g from a decent camera shop did some tests , all good so that’s it. Now do I sell my dx stuff ?
It’s a long time since I added any new stuff. It’s now May. I have sold my dx camera gear but I have found a new lens which I like Nikkor z 14-30 f4 so really wide zoom but I am trying not to get carried away .
The weather has been really awful here but we had a one nice day and I did a bit of painting outside which was great. I used my rollator to carry my stuff.
Now end of June. I managed to sell 2 paintings to someone I know and I got a good price for them and I think they got a good deal too. I am so pleased . Also another friend wants me to do a painting for him so I have a commission as well ! Amazing . It’s really kick started things. I am very happy with using acrylic , I am getting to like it.